Advance All-Area Girls Basketball Team -- South

South Christian, Hopkins girls basketball teams capture conference titles

The 2017-18 Advance All-Area South Girls Basketball Team is led by players who helped lead a couple of teams – South Christian and Hopkins – to their respective conference championships. South Christian was champion in the OK Gold Conference, while Hopkins won the OK Silver title.

Mariel Bruxvoort (Karen Waite | Advance Newspapers)

FIRST TEAM:

MARIEL BRUXVOORT

South Christian, Senior

This talented 6-foot senior forward was a four-year varsity player for the 19-4 Sailors, who won the OK Gold championship. Bruxvoort averaged 17.6 points, 5 rebounds, and nearly 3 assists per game. Bruxvoort surpassed the 1,000-point scoring plateau, including a 28-point performance against Tri-County in a Class B regional win. A repeat all-conference selection, Bruxvoort also is an outstanding hurdler who will run track at the University of Iowa next year.

“By her senior year, Mariel became the most versatile player I have seen come through the program in over 20 years,” South Christian coach Kim Legge said. “I could call on her to play whatever position we needed at any given time. She constantly improved her game and strength during her four years on the varsity, and became a solid leader for our team.”

Ellie Dykstra (MLive file photo)

ELLIE DYKSTRA

Byron Center, Senior

A 6-foot senior guard, Dykstra was the centerpiece of the Byron Center offense over the past three seasons. Dykstra averaged 14.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. Dykstra is a three-time all-conference selection in the OK Green. She will be attending Division I Indiana/Purdue Fort Wayne (IUPU) on a scholarship next year.

“She sees the floor well, pushes tempo, and can score both in the paint and from the outside. Defensively, she causes problems for other teams, as well,” Byron Center coach Jennifer Slot said. “She has a natural ability to read the floor and anticipate plays on defense before they happen. She was also our leading rebounder as a guard, due to her ability to box out and anticipate the ball coming off the rim.”

Meghan Schulz (Greg Chrapek | Advance Newspapers)

MEGHAN SCHULZ

Hopkins, Senior

This 6-foot senior center was a double-double machine for the OK Silver champions. Schulz averaged 13.5 points and 14.5 rebounds a game for Hopkins, which was 14-6 overall and 9-1 in the OK Silver. She also averaged 3.4 blocked shots per game. A three-time all-conference selection, Schulz will participate on the rowing team at Michigan State University next year.

“Meghan played extremely well in the paint on both ends of the floor,” Hopkins coach John Robinson said. “She was our leading scorer and used a variety of moves to finish around the basket. She also did a great job defensively. She allowed perimeter players to play more aggressively because they knew she was inside to help. Along with the help-side defense, she also controlled the boards.”

Gabby Timmer (MLive file photo)

GABBY TIMMER

South Christian, Senior

An outstanding inside complement to the scoring and rebounding prowess of teammate Mariel Bruxvoort, the 6-2 senior center averaged 17 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, along with 2.5 blocks. Timmer shot 79 percent from the free-throw line and her 231 rebounds broke a program record previously set in 1994. She is a two-time all-conference selection in the OK Gold.

“She not only was an inside threat, but extended her game to the 3-point line and shot 40 percent from there,” Sailors coach Kim Legge said. “Her greatest strength was her ability to finish around the rim, and also knowing when to kick it out to one of our 3-point shooters when they had an open shot.”

Menelisia McGee (Karen Waite | Advance Newspapers)

MENELISIA McGEE

Wyoming, Senior

Standing just 5-foot-2, McGee could heat up a gymnasium in a hurry and posted some big numbers for the 9-11 Wolves. A four-year varsity player at Wyoming, McGee averaged a team-leading 17.8 points per game and earned first-team all-conference honors in the OK Gold.

“Menelisia is a great athlete with incredible quickness,” Wyoming coach Troy Mast said. “Despite her lack of size, she has the ability to score in traffic.”

Mikayla Bulich (Greg Chrapek | Advance Newspapers)

SECOND TEAM:

MIKAYLA BULICH

Hopkins, Senior

The 5-8 senior small forward was a sparkplug for the OK Silver champion Vikings. She averaged 12.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game. She scored 36 points in a key two-game stretch against Godwin Heights and Calvin Christian. Bulich earned first-team all-conference honors in the OK Silver.

“Mikayla was our best on-ball defender and also led our team in scoring in six different games,” Hopkins coach John Robinson said. “She was asked to defend the other team’s best scorer, and also go out in front and be ahead of our fast break. By doing that, she was able to stretch the floor and make teams play 94 feet.”

ELASIA CRAIG

Tri-unity Christian, Senior

This 6-2 center was the only senior on the floor for the young Defenders, and still posted big double-double numbers in the paint. Craig averaged 14.9 points and 13.5 rebounds. During her career, she set school records for rebounds (861) and blocked shots (401). Craig blocked 13 shots in each of her final two regular-season games. She earned all-state honors in Class D as a junior.

“Elasia is very athletic and was able to block shots and get rebounds like nobody else,” Tri-unity coach Bryan Sinner said. “She has the ability to control the middle on both ends of the floor. We were very young this year, with Elasia being our only senior, along with two juniors and seven sophomores.”

Sydney Cleary (Karen Waite | Advance Newspapers)

SYDNEY CLEARY

South Christian, Junior

On a team with a talented front court, Cleary was clearly the leader in the backcourt. The 5-7 junior point guard averaged 6.6 points and 5 assists per game for the OK Gold Conference champions. Cleary earned first-team all-conference honors in the OK Gold.

“Sydney’s greatest strength is her ability to create for her teammates,” South Christian coach Kim Legge said. “Sydney has a great ability to keep her composure, even when our team is under pressure. She sees the court so well, and just loves to get her teammates the ball. She also has a beautiful 3-point shot.”

Faith Guritz (Greg Chrapek | Advance Newspapers)

FAITH GURITZ

Martin, Sophomore

Just a sophomore, Guritz is already a two-time all-conference player. The 5-9 forward averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds this season, as Martin went 13-11 overall and captured a district championship. Guritz scored 20 points or more on six separate occasions, including a high of 27.

“Faith's high basketball IQ and her desire to have the ball in her hands is what makes her our team leader,” Martin coach Doug MacVean said. “She is a great player, a great teammate, and a great person.”

Mackenzie Selvius (Karen Waite | Advance Newspapers)

MACKENZIE SELVIUS

South Christian, Senior

Another key cog in the Sailors’ backcourt, the 5-6 Selvius has been playing on the varsity team since her sophomore season. She  averaged 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game as the Sailors went 19-4 overall.

“Mackenzie is the energy of our team. She wants to go 100 percent at all times and will hold people accountable if they are not doing the same,” South Christian coach Kim Legge said. “Mackenzie pushes herself to be better at everything she does, and it paid dividends for her in basketball this year, when she brought her game to a whole new level.”

HONORABLE MENTION:

Stephanie Ainsworth, Wayland Union; Kennedy Helderop, Hopkins; Kayla Hinton, Wyoming; Raviear Koppenhofer, Godwin Heights; Jazmin McClain, Godwin Heights; Trayana Starr-Thurman, Kelloggsville.

ADVANCE ALL-AREA TEAMS SCHEDULE:

All-Area Girls Skiing – Tuesday, March 27

All-Area Boys Skiing – Tuesday, March 27

All-Area Girls Bowling – Wednesday, March 28

All-Area Boys Bowling – Thursday, March 29

All-Area Boys Swimming – Friday, March 30

All-Area Competitive Cheer – Saturday, March 31

All-Area Wrestling – Sunday, April 1

All-Area Gymnastics – Monday, April 2

All-Area Hockey – Monday, April 2

All-Area North Girls Basketball – Tuesday, April 3

All-Area South Girls Basketball – Wednesday, April 4

All-Area East Girls Basketball – Thursday, April 5

All-Area West Girls Basketball – Friday, April 6

All-Area North Boys Basketball – Saturday, April 7

All-Area South Boys Basketball – Sunday, April 8

All-Area East Boys Basketball – Monday, April 9

All-Area West Boys Basketball – Tuesday, April 10